Index tab



.G. H. DAWSON INDEX TAB Filed Feb. 21 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l jh ew JrzsOct. 14 1924.

G. H. DAWSON INDEX TAB Filed Feb. 21, 1923 2 Shee1s-$heet 2 e Fatentedon. teat. inlhfihe g l Tfig FATENT @FFEQ GEORGE H. DAWSON, OF BOSTON,MASSAGHUSE'TTS, ASSIGNOR T LIBRARY BUREAU, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS,A CG'RPQRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

the

INDEX TAB.

Application filed February 21, 1923. Serial No. 620,393.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern: of a guide card having a tab and guard ofBe it known that l, GEORGE H. -DAWSON, further modified form; and acitizen of the United States of America, Fig. 17 is a vertical sectionon the line and resident of Boston,in the county of Suf- 17-17 of Fig.16. folk and State of Massachusetts, have in- As the tabs of guide cardsare commonly vented new and useful Improvements in Inemployed as handlesfor manipulating the dex Tabs, of which the following is a specicardsthey should be strong and of more dufication. rable construction thanthe body of the card This invention pertains to index cards but freefrom sharp edges or corners which and particularly to improvements inindex might injure the fingers of the user, while tabs for guide cardsof the kind commonly the distinguishing characteristics or symbolsemployed in filing systems. employed should be adequately protected Inthe accompanying drawings Which ilfrom dirt and defacement, preferablyremovlustrate preferred forms of the invention: able, and for certainpurposes visible from .Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation eitherside of the card. of a guide card provided with a tab embody- The tabherein illustrated is adapted for ing the present improvements;attachment to the edge of an index sheet or Fig. 2 is an edge elevationof the card other element, such for example as a guide of Fi 1; card andhereinafter referred to generically Fig. 2 is a fragmentary verticalsection as a card, formed of any proper material of the metallic portionof said tab device as bristol board, fiber board or the like, and beforeits application to the guide card; comprises in general a guard deviceformed Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section from stiff sheetmaterial, preferably transthrough such a card illustrating the modeparent, as for example celluloid, and of a of applying the improved tabthereto; thlckness substantially equal to that of the Fig. 4: is a frontelevation and Fig. 5 card and arranged 1n edge to edge relation an endelevation of a guard device forming to the latter, an index slip, labelor equivaa feature of the present invention; lent device having suitablesymbols, indicia Fig. 6 is a front elevation of an index ordistinguishing characteristics visible from slip employed in theimproved tab; one or both sides, and a metallic reinforc- Fig. 7 is afragmentary front elevation of mg and supporting element permanently ataguide card provided w1th a modified form tached to the card and servingas a securing of tab; *Ineans for holding the guard member and Fi 8 i ati l cross-section on the index element in assembled relation to theline 88 of Fig. 7 card.

Fi 9 i a f t l v tio of an ind By the improvements herein illustratedslip for use with the tab shown in Figs. 7 the exposed surface of theindex slip is adeand 8; quately protected from defacement by a Fig. 10is a vertical section through a relatively thick, stiff sheet oftransparent guide card and tab showing another modimaterial and theedges and corners of the fication; metal strip, Where they project abovethe Fig. 11 is a similar View showing a furupper edge of the card are soguarded as ther modification; substantially to prevent contact of theusers Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of a guard fingers therewith while thestifi'ness of the employed in the construction shown in Fig. guard plateis such as to resist any bending 13. or distorting of the projectingportion of Fig. 13 is a vertical section of a guide the metallicsupporting strip. card provided with a tab of further modi- Referring toFigs. 1 to 3 inclusive the fied form; upper portion of a guide card 1 ofusual Fig. 14; is a rear elevation of a modified form is shown having atab constructed in type of guard useful for example in the conaccordancewith the present invention sestruction shown in Fig. 11; cured thereto.This tab preferably com- Fig. 15 is a front elevation of a furtherprises a guard 14: made of celluloid, or other modified form of guard;suitable transparent sheet material and of Fig. 16 is a fragmentaryfront elevation a thickness substantially equal to that of therespectively,.whose inner edges are defined by the vertical surfaces 23,24. The guard is secured to the edge of the card by a reinforcing andsupporting device comprising a strip of sheet metal or other suitablesheet material doubled at 2 to provide front and rear leaves or plates3, 4, respectively. The front leaf or plate is provided with awindow oraperture 5 for exposin' the index\ side of the guard slip hereinafterdescribed whi e the rear plate 4 may be provided with a window oraperture '6 of the same size as the window 5 if desired, but ordinarilysomewhatsmaller such rear window being intended primarily to facilitatethe removal of the index slip with or without the assistance of apointed implement. The fold 2 of the metal strip bears on the upper edgeof guard '14 between the shoulders 23, 24.

The metal of the rear leaf or plate 4 is bent rearwardly along parallellines 10 and 11, Fig. 3, to form an offset part 12 thus providing arecess or channel 13 upon .the inner side of the plate adjacent to thespace 9 occupied by the guard 14. The guard device 14 is of such alength that its ends pro- 'ect beyond the opposite ends of the metalliereinforcing strip with its shoulders 23, 24 constituting stops toprevent its accidental displacement, while the rounded end surfaces ofthe lugs 21, 22 act as guard elements to cover the corners of the metalat the ends of the fold line.

Rivets or other suitable fastening devices indicated at 7 are employedfor securing the parts in assembled relation. The guard 14 is of such athickness that it snugly fills the space 9 when the parts are assembled,but the recess 13 provides a channel for the reception of-an index slipsuchas25, shown in Fig. 6 of any desired material such for example asbristol board, celluloid or the like, and which may he slipped into therecess 13 from one end of the tab. When thus positioned thedistinguishing characteristics of the slip are visible through thetransparent guard 14 at the window 5 and as the guard is in front of theslip the latter is protected from dirt or injury. To remove the slip, apointed implement may be inserted through the window 6 and the slipremoved by sliding it endwise from out the recess 13.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the guide card is designated 1. The reinforce devicein this case comprises a strip of sheet metal folded at 21 to providethe froni: apd rear leaves or ates 3, res ive yin upon oppothe sides ofthe i i d arl d havi ng the guard 14 arranged between them as in theprevious instance. -The guard is rovided with upstanding cars 21*, 22whic in this instance are illustrated as projecting but slightly abovethe metal of the tab at the fold. The front leaf or plate 3 is providedwith a window 5 in the same manner as the tab above described. In thisinstance, however, the tab isn'otprovided with a sli receiving recessand the metal of the ta closely embraces the guard 14. The index slip:25 Fig. 9, is formed of relatively thin material such as paper, and inassembling the parts the slip-is be ore the latter is inserted in thefold in the tab. -After the guard with its slip has been positionedwithin the fold, the cardl is inserted between theleaves orplates 3 and4" and the parts are connected by means of rivets or other fasteningdevices 7". With this arrangement the index slip is nor removable or caable of being changed.

Re erring to Fig. 10, a modified construction is illustrated in whichthe guide card .1 is provided with a tab comprising a strip of metalfolded at 2 to provide the front and rear leaves or plates 3, 4,disposed at opposite sides of the card in the manner above described.The front plate is provided with a window 5 and the placed upon the rearrespectively are assemb ed, thus forming a permanent label or index.This index slip or label may be provided with inscriptions upon oppositesides which will be visible through the windows 5, 6", respectively, itbein evident that the slip is protected on bot sides by the guardmembers 14 which are preferably made of stiff and transparent celluloidor similar material. In thls case as in the preceding arrangements thecomposite guard comprising the members 14 extends beyond the lateraledges of the metallic portion of the tab to prevent contact of the usersfingers with the edges and corners of the meta In Figs. 11 and 14 afurther modification is shown in which the guide card 1 is furnishedwith a tab comprising a metal strip folded at 2 to provide the front andrear leaves or plates 3", 4". plates are provided with-windows 5", 6respectively. Inthis instance, as in that just previously described, theguard comprises two like members it, but these members,

as shown in Fig. 14, are furnished with elongate channels 40 in theirmeeting faces, which collectively provide an open ended pocket for thereception of an index slip 25*. This slip may be provided withinscriptions upon opposite faces if desired, the guard members beingformed of transparent material so as to render the inscriptions visiblethrough the windows. The pocket or channel being open at both ends,permits the insertion and removal of the slip after. the parts have beenassembled. As in preceding example the guard members 14c are fur-,

nished with upstanding ears 21 22", which engage the metal strip at theends of the fold and retain the parts in assembled position. These earsneed not project to an amount substantially greater than the thicknessof the metal, if preferred, thus giving a more finished appearance tothe upper ed e of the tab.

11 Figs. 12 and 13a-further modification is shown in'which the guidecard 1 is provided with a tab comprising a metal strip bent at 2 toprovide front and rear leaves or plates 3 4: respectively. In thisinstance the front leaf and rear leaf are again bent at the points 60,61 respectively so that the upper part of the tab lies in a planeinclined to that of the guide card. The upper portion of the front leafor plate is provided with a window 5 and the upper art of the rear leafor plate may be provi ed with a narrow opening 6 to facilitate theremoval of the label. A convenient form of guard is shown in Fig. 12 asconsisting of a thick and stifi strip of celluloid or other suitabletransparent material 14 which fits snugly within the fold of the metaland is provided with ears 21, 22 for retaining it in position. side witha recess 42. for the reception of the index slip indicated at 25*, Fig.13. The slip is placed in the recess during the assembling of the partsand is not removable, but is visible through the substance of the guardand through the window 5.

In Fig. 15 a modified type of guard is shown consisting of a piece ofsuitable material such as celluloid, bakelite, redmanol, porcelain orthe like provided with positioning ears 21, 22' respectively engageablewith the opposite edges of the metallic portion of the tab and havingsuitable indicia permanently fixed thereon, such indicia consisting ofraised or depressed characters, printing, or merely a suitabledistinguishing pigmentation of the material of the guard. As in theprevious instance, this guard is of substantial thichiess and projectsbeyond the lateral edges and corners of the metal to prevent suchcontact at the users fingers with the latter.

In Figs. 16 and 17 the guide card 1 is This guard is provided at itsrear Less 8 illustrated as provided with a tab comprising a straightpiece of metal 4 secured to the rear side of the card bymeans of rivets7 or other desired attaching elements. The guard 14 in this instance isnot provided with the projectin ears or lugs disclosed in the previousmo ifications but is secured directly to the upstanding portion of themetal strip 4 by means of rivets 49. The ends of the guard projectbeyond the corners and lateral-edges of the metal strip as in thepreceding examples. Preferably the guard is of a thickness substantiallyequalling or greater than the combined thickness of the card andmetalstrip and its rear surface is recessed to receive the projecting portion48 of the metal strip, the edges of which are completely housed in andcovered by the material of'the guard as indicated at 50 in Fi 17. Thisguard if of transparent material, may have an index slip 51 interposedbetween its rear face and the front face of the projectin portion 48 ofthe metal strip, or if desire indicia ma be formed directly in or uponits forwar face. It is also evident that as in anyof the above cases,where transparent material is employed for the guard, the desireddistinguishing indicia or characteristics may be molded or embeddedWithin the substance of such guard.

While various forms of guard have been herein shown, they are regardedas substan tial equivalents one of the other and may be interchanged inany of the above constructions where it is desirable to do so.

I claim:

1. An index device having a metallic tab holder projecting therefrom andan associated non-metallic guard projecting beyond the holder.

2. An index comprising a tab holder having corners projecting beyond themargin of the index and rounded guards at said corners.

3. An index device having a tab holder positioned to one side thereofand projecting beyond a margin thereof, and a guard disposed in theplane of the device and extending beyond the projecting portion of theholder.

4. An index comprising a metallic tab holder having porners projectingbeyond the margin of the index, and a non-metallic guard having roundedcorners projecting beyond the corners of the tab holder.

5. A tab for index cards comprising a piece of sheet metal secured tothe card and having a part projecting beyond the edge of the card, theprojecting part being adapted to support an index element, and means forguarding the corners of the projecting portion of the metal piece.

6. A tab for index cards comprising a piece of stifi' non-metallicmaterial of a thicknem substantially equal to that of the card andhaving spaced abutment elements, line. and a sheet metal reinforcingelement en- 12. A tab for index cards comprising a gaging aligned facesof the card and the doubled piece of sheet material permanently piece ofmaterial, respectively, said sheet secured to the card with 1ts fo dedportion metal element being positioned between the spaced from the edgeof the card to provide said spaced abutments and permanently a pocket,the front wall of the pocket having holding said piece of material inedge to a window therein, a transparent member edge relation to thecard. within the pocket, said member having en- 7. A tab for index cardscomprisin a lar ed extremities engaging the opposite transparent guardof sheet material an of en s respectively of the pocket to prevent its athickness substantially e ual to that of the removal from the latter,said member exindex card and having inherent stiffness tending acrossthe window, and an index and rigidity, and a sheet-metal reinforcedeelement to the rear of the front face of the vice secured to the card,and means includtransparent member and visible through the ing spacedabutment members carried by the window.

the opposite edges of the metal at the fold guard for permanentlyretaining the latter in edge to edge relation to the card.

8. A tab for index cards comprising a 13. A tab for index cardscomprising a iece of sheet material provided with a part or attachmentto the card and a part. propiece of transparent sheet celluloid of aviding an open ended pocket having a winthickness substantially equal tothat of the dow in its front wall, a strip of transparent card andindependent of the latter, a strip celluloid within the pocket andextending of sheet metal doubled to provide a pocket beyond the endsthereof, the extremities of for permanently holding said piece of masaidstrip being widened to prevent withterial in edge to edge relation tothe card, drawal of the stri from the pocket, and an means for securingthe opposed folds of said index slip behin the celluloid strip and stripof metal to opposite faces of the card visible through the window.

and means to prevent endwise movement of 14. A tab for index cardscomprising a the celluloid piece relatively to the pocket piece of sheetmaterial provided with a part comprising enlargements at either end offor attachment to the card and a part prosaid celluloid piece.

9. A tab for index guide cards consistin of a doubled piece of sheetmaterial secure to opposite sides of the guide card with its foldedportion projecting beyond the edge of the guide card to provide an indexreceiving pocket, and a ard for the lateral edges of the material ormingthe pocket.

10. A tab for index cards comprising a doubled piece of sheet materialpermanently viding an open ended pocket having a window in its frontwall, a strip of stiff transparent material within the pocket, saidmember having elements at its opposite ends engaging the opposite endsrespectively of the ocket to prevent its removal from the atter, and anindex slip arranged in a recess behind the transparent strip and visiblethrough the latter.

15. A tab for index cards comprising a secured to opposite sides of thecard with doubled piece of sheet metal secured to the A its foldedportion projecting beyond the opposite sides of the card with its foldededge of the card to provide an open ended rtion spaced from the card,the front pocket, and a stiff transparent guard fitting? wall of thefolded portion having a window snugly within the pocket, the plece ofsheet opening and the rear wall having an offset material and the guardbeing provided with providlng an open ended recess, a'sheet ofcooperating engaging elements for positivestifi' transparent materialwithin the fold of ly preventing longitudinal movement of the the sheetmetal above the edge of the card guard in the pocket. said sheet havingan upstanding ear at 11. A guard for use with an index tab coneither endengaging the opposite edges of sisting of a folded piece of sheet metalprothe pocket respectively to prevent its reviding a pocket within itsfold, comprising moval from the latter, and an index slip rean elongateguard of transparent celluloid movablyposi ioned wi hin the recessbehind adapted to fit within the pocket with its the sheet oftransparent material. ends projecting beyond the ends of the latv ter,the projecting ends of said guard being February, 1

curved and terminating in lugs overlapping GEORGE H. DAWSON.

Signed by me at Boston, this 19th day of

